Mayweather Stays Perfect, Beats Maidana Again
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Ethan Miller/Getty Images(LAS VEGAS) — In a rematch of one of the toughest fights in his professional career, Floyd Mayweather, Jr. controlled from the opening bell, beating Marcos Maidana in a unanimous decision on Saturday to retain his welterweight and junior middleweight world titles. Mayweather had previously defeated Maidana by majority decision in May.
Mayweather was able to avoid the heavy hands of Maidana this time around, winning the fight 116-111, 116-111, and 115-112, upping his unblemished record to an impressive 47-0 (26 KOs).
“I think the difference was I didn’t stay on the ropes and I did a lot of movement and turning,” Mayweather said. “I felt sharper in the first fight. My rhythm was a little off. I gave myself a C, C-minus. I thought I could have done a lot better. I got hit with some shots I shouldn’t have.”
Maidana (35-5, 31 KOs) did pin the champion against the ropes in the fifth round, connecting on a couple of right hands before Mayweather escaped. Following a clinch in the eighth round, Mayweather jumped back and complained to referee Kenny Bayless, later saying that Maidana bit three of his fingers on his left hand.
The bite didn’t hurt the pound-for-pound king, at least not on the stat sheet. Mayweather connected on 51 percent of his punches, landing 166 of the 326 punches thrown. After the fight, Mayweather said he has not ruled out a potential “superfight” with Manny Pacquiao.
“I’m gonna go and talk to my team and see what the future holds,” Mayweather said. “I don’t know who I’m fighting in May but I expect to fight in May. Manny Pacquiao needs to focus on the guy in front of him. Once he gets past him, he can look to the future. If the Pacquiao fight presents itself let’s make it happen.”
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